Some of the health science disciplines are very keen on adopting conceptual framework in their thesis/dissertation. This has been used for both quantitative and qualitative studies. But, not all health science researchers are interested in it. Why is it so?
Conceptual framework is normally developed based on a literature review of existing studies or theories about the topic.
It depicts or narrates the relationship between the expected variables in your study.
After you have completed your literature review, you can use it to help you design your questionnaire or interview protocol for your fieldwork.
The role of Conceptual framework in a study to explain the concepts and variables in the study, and also show how the concepts and variables in the study are linked.
Without a conceptual framework that links a) core theories with b) key concepts and with c) all of your research questions / hypotheses in the study it's not sound research.
Many researchers / students avoid it, though, because it is a lot of work to develop a substantial and consistent conceptual framework.
You should definitely go for one in your research. Good luck!
There is not much difference between LITERATURE REVIEW and CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK. You can develop LITERATURE REVIEW into CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK, which generally goes in tandem with the inquiry design one is working towards.
However, CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK is far more developed (when compared to LITERATURE REVIEW) because the researcher has already conceptualized something important, say a model (which might further be revised), on the basis of the literature reviewed or the research data analyzed.
Hope this works for you! :)
The conceptual framework is the overall family of ideas one will tie together and utilize to support (frame) the research/study.
Developing a graph to situate how one will relate the ideas to one another — a visual depiction — is a good exercise that will often augment your internal conceptualization for others. From there, you can refine it, if needed.
the overall family of ideas one will tie together and utilize to support (frame) the research/study.
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